Table of contents for August 2023 in Cycling Plus

If you can get through the first 54 pages of this edition without venturing to the foot of your nearest climb and/or plotting a trip to Cadiz to take on a Spanish end-to-end, then you’ve stronger willpower than me. First up we have the climbing guru, Simon Warren, on his lifelong love affair with seeking out Europe’s greatest ascents (p16). Like Simon, Rob Ainsley is a foremost expert in his field, this time the enduring appeal of cycling end-to-ends. Forays across France, Cuba and more are listed from p48, but it’s the 670 miles on Spanish blacktop that’s occupying my cycling daydreams. What’s on your bucket list? matthew.baird@ourmedia.co.uk Your experts Simon Warren Can-do attitude Simon is a hill-climbing addict and author of 14 books on epic ascents around the UK…

Spring saw the release of my book 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of Spain – the 14th pocket guide in my series dedicated to suffering on two wheels. Having all but exhausted the British Isles I’ve also written about the bergs of Belgium and the mountains of France and Italy. This Spain book completes the trilogy of Grand Tour nations, and as well as the mainland, it also covers Majorca and the Canary Islands – popular destinations for British roadies. When approaching a new climb, I still get the same thrill as I did as a fresh-faced teenager, a sense of pure excitement packaged up with some nerves as to what gradients I’ll have to tackle and what views I will be treated to. It’s a passion, oddly, that was forged…

Weight 8.97kg (M) Frame CF3 carbon Fork CF3 carbon Gears Shimano 105 11-speed (50/34t, 11-30t) Brakes Shimano 105 R7020 hydraulic disc Wheels Merida Team SL35 Finishing kit FSA ACR SMR stem, Merida Expert SL bar, Merida Expert CC seatpost, Merida Expert SL saddle, Continental Ultra Sport 700x28c tyres THE MERIDA SCULTURA IS AN ALL-rounder, blending an aggressive racebred geometry with a frame looking to balance low weight and aerodynamics. It scales back the spec from the Scultura 9000 and comes in at half the price. Overall, it’s not flawless but does offer upgrade potential. Racy DNA It uses Merida’s carbon mix known as ‘CF3’, which Merida says is near-comparable in stiffness and compliance to the pricier CF5, and comes with a minor weight penalty (997g in medium compared to the…

Weight 9.51kg (M) Frame ALUXX-Grade aluminium Fork Advanced-Grade Composite, OverDrive steerer Gears Shimano 105 (50/34t, 11-34t) Brakes Shimano 105 Wheels Giant P-R2 Disc Finishing Kit Giant Contact SL D-Fuse alloy bar, Giant Contact alloy stem, Giant D-Fuse carbon seatpost, Giant Approach saddle, Giant Gavia Fondo 2 32mm tubeless tyres GIANT DESCRIBES THIS ALL-ROAD bike as able to cope with “adventurous options” away from main routes and onto those with rougher surfaces. Slotting ably into the overlap between endurance, all-road and gravel bikes, could the Contend AR1 be your budget-friendly ‘everything’ machine? Giant’s range of aluminium-framed road bikes features four models, including the £879 entry-level Contend with rim brakes, the Contend SL in rim or disc-brake form, the Contend AR, and the AR1 model on test, which tops the disconly,…

TIME’S UNIQUE TAKE ON OFF-ROAD clipless pedals combines a very well-tensioned retention system alongside bags of float and an open design that sheds mud and grit brilliantly. The ATAC’s nylon-composite body wraps around a hollow stainless-steel axle that helps keep weight to a minimum. At just 290g (plus 45g pair of cleats and bolts), they’re impressively light for the price: lighter than Shimano’s premium XTR pedals for significantly less outlay. The body is tough enough, though it can get a few dings and battle scars. Sprung twin bars make up the retention system with brass cleats fixed to your shoes. The standard cleats can be set up with either 13 or 17° of float, or there’s an ‘easy’ cleat with a set 10° float. Entry into the pedal is a…

Tech Shirt Adventure £86 Adventure Baggy Shorts £139 Gregarius Adventure Bib Shorts £157.49 THE STAR OF THE SHOW in this gravel outfit, the stunning bib shorts are shaped superbly with high-density knitted fabric where you need the support (thighs and lower spine) and a high-stretch fabric with strategically placed seams at the inner thighs and crotch area. The flanks of the thighs have deep, high-stretch mesh pockets with a bias-cut mouth that keeps your stashed items secure when you’re pedalling. The stretchy mesh also extends below the pockets to add another layer of protection. The Y-shaped back is soft, stretchy and dries very rapidly. Broad braces are laser cut with no seams and sit flat, and there’s a third, hidden pocket in the centre of the back. A plush endurance…

THE AGGRESSIVELY PRICED Hub boasts a spec list comparable to some of the best smart trainers. It’s practically idiot-proof to set up, too. When ordering, you choose an 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-or 12-speed Shimano HG cassette, which is pre-installed (SRAM XDR and Campagnolo-compatible freehubs are also available). At 14.8kg, it’s by no means the heaviest smart trainer, but the fixed legs don’t fold away for storage, and it lacks a handle for moving it easily around, so it’s best suited to a dedicated turbo space. The build quality is good for the price and my MacBook easily connected via Bluetooth. It’s also fully compatible with other indoor cycling apps, such as Wahoo, Rouvy and TrainerRoad. It offers a stable platform for hard efforts and there’s an impressively realistic ride feel,…

Cannondale has recently entered the helmet market with a concise collection of minimal-aesthetic models targeting different riding disciplines. The Junction is an all-road/gravel offering designed to be versatile at an accessible price. The single-colour matte/gloss combination immediately looks expensive. Closer inspection reveals that the shell wraps fully underneath the helmet edge, giving a high-quality finish that adds durability. The small peak is largely cosmetic – it plays to the gravel rider without venturing into MTB territory, but it can be removed. Inside, the Junction is MIPS-equipped (Multi-Directional Impact-Protection System) with pads through the front and a thumbwheel ratchet system at the rear for tightening the cradle. The Y-shaped strap splitters do a neat job of pulling together the front and rear cradle straps, and also create comfortable fit. Although we didn’t…

WHILE THERE’S CHEAPER KIT around, these items show you can get decent-performing tech without breaking the £100-per-item barrier. The ‘Crackle’ jersey is made of 90% recycled materials, with excellent ventilation provided by the sizeable mesh areas under the arms and on the upper back. The fabric, a polyester/elastane blend, also feels light and breathable. A ‘regular’ fit, it sits a little floatier than many brands. The full-length zipper garage scores further plus points, while the silicone print on the bottom hem kept the jersey in place. The four back pockets do sag when loaded, and anyone with bigger than an iPhone 7 may struggle to fit it into the small zipped pocket. The mesh fabric on the back and straps of the Adv Endur Bib Shorts works really well too.…

These light, 34.4g glasses are outstanding value, coming with a hard case, three lenses and a cleaning bag. The flexible lens is 65mm at its deepest and expands from 120mm wide to close to 150mm, fitting different face sizes. For me, they held in place well but they’re more suited to smooth road rides. The main sun lens (a gold-mirror Cat 3) works in the sunniest conditions, though the contrast of the lens isn’t as punchy as more expensive lenses. You also get a clear lens for night riding, plus a high-contrast, orange-tinted lens for low-light days, and lens swaps are easy to do. Glasses wearers can buy the RX Prescription Holder Insert for an extra £4.99.…

The urban-focused Tone has a single full-width vent on top and a large exhaust port on the rear. Inside the helmet, the EPS foam core has channels cut into it, which keeps the minimal air coming into the helmet moving. Sizing is generous and Specialized’s SX fit system combines tri-fix web straps that stay in place and don’t roll or fold, though they aren’t adjustable. The rear cradle is a simple two-point anchoring system with a nice fine-adjustment, with the two-way dial making it easy to cinch up tight. The cradle can hold an ANGI crash sensor (sold separately). The Tone also incorporates a MIPS liner, which is rare on urban helmets, helping it achieve a top, 5-star rating from the helmet-testing lab at Virginia Tech. It’s not one for…

01 WHAT FOODS BOOST BRAIN HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE? Many foods nourish your brain, helping to improve health and exercise proficiency. Here are four to digest and enjoy… Omega-3 Omega-3 is nectar to your brain as it’s one of the few chemicals that can pass through the blood-brain barrier to fuel brain development. Omega-3 also benefits brain and muscle function by acting as a blood cleanser, making your blood less sticky and more fluid. This allows more oxygen to reach the brain and muscles; in turn, you’ll become a faster and more alert rider. Omega-3 also helps lubricate and reduce inflammation in the joints plus it helps speed up the body’s healing process. That’s why you should add cold-pressed flax seed oil to dressings and smoothies. Chia seeds, salmon, nuts and mackerel…

Wahoo Elemnt Roam V2 £349.99 One wrong turn can curtail your cycling adventures, so you need a reliable GPS bike computer where you can upload routes and follow them. Wahoo’s Elemnt Roam V2 is intuitive and powerful with a clear screen. Komoot £3.99 to £59.99 Komoot is a route-plotting app that helps you find, plan, and share adventures with its easy route planner. Many bike computers have Komoot compatibility, meaning uploading your routes should be a swift and straightforward affair. Lifesaver Wayfarer £94.99 Stuck miles from a shop? Then Lifesaver’s pocket-friendly, 323g Wayfarer water purifier has technology that can remove a minimum of 99.99% of bacteria, cysts and even dangerous viruses from multiple water sources.…

Three years ago, I spent a week delving into cycling in the West Midlands for an article, as you do. I was concerned that the region’s mayor Andy Street’s plan for cycling back then seemed to amount to a network of unlit canal towpaths. In a region where 41% of journeys are less than two miles, and 30% of people say they would cycle more if it felt safer, targets for 5% of trips to be by bike seemed unambitious and I said this in my Guardian article at the time. Well, dear reader, how things have changed. Now Street and his team have discovered a newfound cycling verve, attracting hundreds of millions of pounds for cycling over the next five years, and becoming somewhat of a success story. So…

Weight 8.97kg (XL) Frame Basso Astra carbon Fork Basso Astra carbon Gears Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 12-speed (50/34t, 11-32t) Brakes Shimano 105 R7120 hydraulic disc Wheels Microtech MR Lite alloy Finishing kit Basso Paradigma stem, Microtech XL aluminium bar, Basso carbon seatpost, Selle Italia Flite Boost SF saddle, Continental Ultra Sport 700x28c tyres THE BASSO ASTRA, THE ITALIAN brand’s flagship endurance road bike, saw an update in 2022, headlining with a more relaxed geometry and widened tyre clearances. It’s turned it into a capable longride buster, with the potential to dip toes into light gravel. To that end, the frameset offers clearance for up to 35mm-wide tyres. While the geometry makes the Astra easy to ride, there remains an element of rigidness within the frame that a couple of smart…

One of the first things I admit to Felix Young, the coach of Great Britain’s cycle-ball team, in our video call is that, until researching this article, I hadn’t known his sport – essentially football on bicycles – even existed. “I’m not convinced the people who signed off [on the championships] did either!” he says. “But it’s partly what David Lappartient [the president of cycling’s governing body, the UCI] was trying to do with Glasgow, to give the smaller disciplines like ours more of a platform. These conversations are only happening because of that.” The ‘Glasgow’ he mentions are the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds. Not just a Road Worlds or a Track Worlds, organised individually at different times of the year, but a universal Cycling Worlds, where 13 cycle sport…

As a sports journalist for 20 years, James Witts’ Rolodex is one of the cycling industry’s biggest, and he’s utilised it to the full in his latest (and often amusing) book, Riding with the Rocketmen, securing interviews with pro cyclists, as well as bike fits, psychology sessions and wind-tunnel visits with cycling’s leading minds on his journey to the Étape du Tour de France 2022 start line. Driving the narrative of Rocketmen is Witts’ aim of completing the Étape in style, with 167km of cycling in a French heatwave, the iconic ascents of the Col du Galibier, Croix de Fer and Alpe d’Huez and 4,700m of elevation gain standing in his way of success. As a 90kg rider with a fondness for ale over riding in the heat, Witts hatches…

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“The wavy inner profile drifts between 82 and 85mm deep, to act like a deeper rim aerodynamically while, at the same time, being more stable in crosswinds” Aerodynamic wheels with a depth of 85mm are usually the preserve of time trialists, triathletes or, occasionally, professional riders on still, flat days. The 858 NSWs, however, might just change all that. The rims use Zipp’s Sawtooth profile, inspired by the tubercles on a humpback whale’s fins that improve its efficiency through the water. The wavy inner profile drifts between 82 and 85mm deep, to act like a deeper rim aerodynamically while, at the same time, being more stable in crosswinds: best of both worlds! The rim is 23mm internally to suit wider tyres (it’s optimised aero-wise for a 28mm tyre) and, like…

THE ALTA WHEELSET (1,532g a pair, as weighed by us) has been designed to embrace both road and gravel, with an emphasis on versatility between a hardpacked surface, rocky fire roads and mud, depending on your tyre choice. The wheels come pre-taped, saving set-up faff. Tyres go on easily and stay up, and the wheels are good to go with no spoke pings. Seriously stiff The combination of deeper rims (37mm) and 28 spokes creates a stiff build, and that is borne out in the ride quality. On roads and hardpack, these are fast wheels (internal rim 23.5mm; outer 31mm), climbing is easy and putting the power down has instant engagement (13.8°) that transfers quickly to speed. The bearings are super-fast out of the gate, with no drag, even when…

The latest Racing 5 DB (disc brake) wheelset has some useful improvements. Increased external and internal rim widths (to 25mm and 20mm respectively), help cope with wider tyres, while rim depth has decreased to 24mm and stiffness is toned down. Hand assembled and finished in its Italian factory, the wheels are compatible with up to 700 x 28c tyres (they could only take 25mm-wide before). This all helps boost ease and comfort for newer riders looking for a first upgrade of their wheelset, or those needing an all-day, all-weather training option. Rim tape comes pre-installed, so the wheels are tubeless-ready. Mine weighed 1,736g per pair, including the rim tape and lockrings. When I fitted some Specialized Turbo 25mm-wide clincher tyres onto the rims I didn’t need to use tyre levers.…

A METAL-BODIED FRONT LIGHT mounts to your bars via a cradle and rubber strap (112g all in). The good-quality LED has high (150 lumens), half and strobe settings, and side windows for added road safety. I got a decent 4.5hr run time on high, and over 14 hours on strobe. Other road users will thank you for the dipped-beam design that works well for using around town. You can even use it as a torch when detached from the removable mount. The 26g rear light, with three flash modes and a constant one, lasts up to 12 hours, and these great-value lights charge in three hours with their micro-USB cables, making them a good option for commuters.…

A GOOD OPTION FOR commuters, the 30L Slice has two long, comfortable perforated pads running down the back and helping keep sweat at bay. There are chest and removable waist straps, while the padded shoulder straps are comfy enough but lack the plumpness of higher-priced bags. A bright yellow waterproof cover also aids visibility, along with the reflective graphics. Internally, there’s a compartment for a laptop or bladder, but laptop protection is minimal, from underneath especially. Two external zipped pockets for valuables, a large front pouch, two water bottle outlets and a helmet net add to the huge usability. Construction quality and durability is good.…

A classic design, these robust mudguards come in black, latte or silver Chromoplastic. The front mudguard’s stainless steel stays fix easily to the fork leg or dropout with the SKS breakaway Secu-Clip. Fitting the rear mudguard is easy too, but the rear stays don’t have the Secu-Clip. Excess stay can be cut off, and plastic endcaps added to cover the sharp ends. The 35mm width works for tyres up to 30mm, and the slim, snug-fitting ’guards allow easy adjustment for optimum positioning. They simply refuse to rattle and their curved profile and generous lengths with rear flaps mean little spray escapes. All this adds up to make them a great option for commuters.…

This impressively lightweight (68g) clip-on guard provides full backside protection from the knees up. The Win Wing attaches in seconds to be easily transferable between bikes and can be set for a clearance and angle that works for you, which makes it especially useful for gravel riding. The Win Wing is a cinch to fit. Watch-strap-style bands fit round the seatstays with plenty of room for adjustment, the tension between the ‘wishbone’ arms creating a curve in the guard. Clearance depends on the height of fixing on the stays, and you can also set your preferred angle – parallel to the ground for us. Slots on each side of the free end of the fastening allow a zip tie to be closed over, to deter an opportunist theft. Our bike light,…

VITTORIA’S GREAT-VALUE Zaffro Pros have a tough 26 TPI (threads per inch) nylon carcass for strong puncture protection, while the graphene 2.0 rubber compound is also designed for durability. Vittoria says 25-28c tyres should be used on a rim with a 19mm internal width, but they worked well on my 20mm test rims. When inflated, they were 28.5mm wide. The shallow, rounded profile and excellent sidewall support gives ample grip in all conditions, and they’re suppler than you’d expect. They’re not the fastest at accelerating, but maintain a decent tempo.…

Gravel, commuting and bikepacking feel like the Cycling Rain Jacket’s natural home, its looser fit and hood making it less endurance road-riding friendly. Trying to scrunch it into its chest pocket isn’t easy and it’s too big for a jersey pocket to hold. The quartet of zipped pockets is well-crafted, however, and the chest option’s great for a phone. The fact the main zip’s shielded by the fabric adds waterproofing confidence. The 15,000m waterproof rating is high, the fabric’s multi-layer polyester construction remaining resolute in some extended downpours. That waterproofing is elevated by taped seams, but breathability is only adequate. The extended cuffs are adept at preventing unwanted airflow, although the Velcro fastening isn’t the classiest option. The peaked hood sits under a helmet, but I’d like to be able to…

Packed with tips & advice Get into Road Cycling is the ultimate guide for beginners Inside this special edition, you’ll find out how to: • Climb and descend like a pro • Set up gears • Build fitness in your lunchtime • Maintain brakes • Fix annoying noises • Ride in a group • Find the right size bike • Cheat the wind • Fuel up properly • Climb and descend like a pro • And much more! ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY www.buysubscriptions.com/getintoroad23 or call 03330 162 138 and quote ‘Get Into Road 2023’ Lines are open 8am-6pm weekdays and 9am-1pm Saturdays Overseas please call +44 (0) 1604 973 746 £10.99 with FREE UK delivery. EUR price £12.49, ROW price £13.49. All orders are subject to availability. Please allow up…

Seasons to remember The makers of The Road Book, the almanac dedicated to the pro cycling season, has unveiled the first in its new ‘Blue Series’ dedicated to memorable seasons from the past. The first book looks at 1989 theroadbook.co.uk RadioCycling Check out new pro cycling podcast RadioCycling, presented by journalists Jeremy Whittle, Peter Cossins and Chris Marshall-Bell. Its 30-minute episodes of news and interviews are released twice weekly Homage to Catalonia Sports Tours International have partnered with David Millar on a four-day riding tour, The Authentic Girona Experience, in Millar’s home city from 14 September Far from home Never Strays Far, Ned Boulting, David Millar and Pete Kennaugh’s podcast, returns to the Tour de France, offering the trio’s meandering musings on each stage in a nightly show OK computer…

Groupset ● All the parts involved in braking, changing gear or running the drivetrain. This includes the shifters, brake levers, front and rear brake callipers, front and rear derailleurs (or mechs), crankset, bottom bracket, chain and cassette. Reach ● The horizontal distance between the centre of the bottom bracket and the centre of the head tube. A longer reach lowers your ride position; a shorter reach means you sit more upright. Stack ● The vertical distance between the top of the head tube to the centre of the bottom bracket. Taller stack means a more upright ride position; lower stack means a lower (racier) position. Shimano Di2 ● Shimano’s top-end groupsets forgo cables in favour of electronic derailleurs powered by a battery wired to the shift levers and mechs, usually…

Weight 8.12kg (M) Frame Helium Disc, 24-30T HM UD Carbon Fork Helium Disc, 24-30T HM UD Carbon Gears SRAM Rival eTap AXS 12-speed (48/35t, 10-36t) Brakes SRAM Rival eTap AXS Wheels Forze Norte db Finishing kit Dead Superbox stem, Deda Zero 2 handlebar, Forza Cirrus seatpost, Selle Italia XR saddle THE HELIUM FALLS UNDER THE ‘Essential Series’ moniker, which Ridley claims has the same stiffness and ride quality characteristics as the top-flight SLX but constructed from a more cost-effective grade of carbon fibre. Ridley’s bike sizes run large, so you might want to go one higher than normal, and rather than offering women-specific bikes, Ridley offers custom bike fitting and builds for women. It’s great going up, less so going down, and design and spec choices are a little outdated.…

The Testers Ashley Quinlan Senior technical editor Ash is on a bike as often as he’s off it as part of his job to review products Will Poole Workshop manager Our Cytech Level 3-qualified mechanic, Will, has pumped up many a tyre in his time Russell Burton Cycle photographer Photographer and rider Russell is used to testing kit to the max on long, tough days Simon von Bromley Senior tech writer Simon has a keen interest in technology that can help him ride faster…

OAKLEY’S ENCODER RANGE carries on the novel structural lens design that debuted with the Kato. There’s a ridged brow and sculpting around the nose area to give the rigidity of a frame without the obtrusion. They also wrap a long way around your head. The vented Strikes are stiff, well-sprung and tenaciously gripping shades. The arms have a chunky, solid connection with the lens, tapering out to flexible temple tips coated in Oakley’s trademark grippy Unobtanium ear socks (the same material used on the nosepiece). The Prizm Field lens has exceptional clarity and, though the rose-tinted lens may look most suitable for less bright days, I’ve used these (15% light transmission) glasses on the sunniest, hottest UK days so far this year and on trips to Europe and Midwest USA…

THIS WHEELSET SHOWS FEW compromises in its pursuit of road speed, aiming to hit the sweetspot between aerodynamic performance and stability, weight and versatility: Tadej Pogačar rode it to victory in the 2023 Tour of Flanders. It isn’t the lightest or deepest wheelset out there, but is quite possibly the fastest, best-performing mid-depth carbon wheelset I’ve ridden. The rims have a 55mm profile at the rear paired with 49mm at the front to improve handling in crosswinds. This wheelset is optimised for 27-29c tyres, and the rims are hookless, so run tubeless tyres. Sapim CX-Ray J-bend aero spokes lace the rims to ENVE’s alloy hubs. The freehub uses a ratchet system, which ENVE claims is more durable than a pawl-based system. Its double-sealed stainless steel hub bearings are, it says,…

THE ORRA, LIKE THE Alta, targets the cheaper carbon gravel territory and is designed to play on and off-road, and across a mix of terrain, from hardpacked trail to rocky paths. Set-up is again straightforward, with factory-applied tape reducing faff. The tyres went on easily and, even though there was an appreciable amount of ping from the 24 spokes on the first ride, they stayed true. Note that the Orra comes with a standard Shimano/SRAM 9/10/11-speed free hub; if you want to run XDR (as I did) you will need to hand over an extra £50 for the upgrade. Positive vibes On the road, the Orra (1,570g per set; rim height 35mm) is a similarly stiff and responsive ride. It features a star ratchet rather than pawl hub which makes…

Weight 9.04kg (56cm) Frame Trek Émonda ALR alloy Fork Trek Émonda ALR, carbon Gears Shimano 105 R7000 11-speed (50/34t x 11-30t) Wheels Bontrager Paradigm SL Brakes Shimano 105 R7000, 160mm rotors Finishing kit Bontrager Comp alloy seatpost, Bontrager Verse Comp saddle, Bontrager Comp VR-C bar, Bontrager Elite stem, Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite 25c tyres THE TREK ÉMONDA ALR IS THE American brand’s take on the premium aluminium race bike. Now in its third generation, the ALR takes the recipe for the 2021 Émonda but substitutes carbon fibre for aluminium to bring the cost down. The ALR 5 is the base model in the 2023 Trek Émonda ALR range, which offers a suite of relatively affordable components alongside a frameset and groupset worthy of future upgrades. As with most bikes at…

This track pump from great-value brand Decathlon sets out a good stall. A ‘hammerhead’-style chuck allows valve selection via a simple locking lever and the hose is 80cm long. There are clips either side of the body and a guide in the handle for storing the hose. The wide, domed aluminium base provides ample standing room for stability and has channels for added grip and prevention of muck build-up. However, the dial on the black pump, while not tiny at 45mm diameter, has a black face with blue writing (red and yellow pumps also available). It does have a target pressure indicator and the hand is orange, which rescues things to some degree. In our inflation test, it required a respectable 21 strokes to reach 80psi. “A hammerhead-style chuck allows valve…

TOPEAK’S BARGAIN-PRICED Master X1 is made from a sturdy polymer that works well to keep bottles in place. Be careful when reinserting a bottle, though, as the base retention lip is quite small and it can be easy to push a bottle beyond it. The 49.7g cage offers 15mm of adjustment from its slotted bolt holes and its base incorporates two slide-on, locking tyre levers. They’re quite small, but ample for most clincher tyres (they struggled with tight tubeless tyres as many levers do). The interchangeable Cage Mount system means you can swap the tyre levers for a CO2 pump mount, inner-tube holder, multi tool or other items.…

The 25 ventilation channels of the Pinnacle Race are sizeable and well-positioned, with a noticeable cooling whoosh apparent during summer riding. It tips the scales at a satisfactory 329g for a £35 lid, although there’s no MIPS. The outer polycarbonate shell neatly covers most of the exposed EPS foam around the rim of the helmet, a rarity at this price, and this aids the visual design further, but where the Race really struggles is with the basic buckle adjuster at the rear. It’s tricky to adjust on the fly and even tougher to locate an exact left-right balance. I’d also like some denser pads at the front.…

THE IGS320 IS A GPS BIKE computer featuring a 2.4” screen and an impressive 72-hour battery life. The sealed construction is waterproof (IXP7) with an anti-fog screen, and it attaches to the bike using a regular quarter-twist Garmin-style mount. Charging is via a USB C cable. Set-up is straightforward, and pairing to the app on a phone is easy. There’s no touch screen, with operation on the bike via two buttons that control on/off and start/stop and cycle through the three different screens. The charging port is well-sealed. The data on the screens is the usual mix of time, speed, temperature, distance, heart rate/cadence (via a paired device) and navigation. Sadly there’s no customisation in the way that data is presented and, because there’s so much to look at, it’s…

THIS IS ONE OF THE CHEAPEST turbo trainers, and comes with fewer compromises than you might expect. It has a modest spec and basic design but comes from a brand with a strong reputation for producing top-performing smart trainers. It’s also quick and easy to assemble, and is very compact when folded away for storage. As with other wheel-on smart trainers, the Flow Smart is louder and does report power with less accuracy than direct-drive models. It doesn’t ship with thru-axle adaptors, only a 130mm quick-release skewer, so if your bike uses thru-axles then you may need to fork out £26 or £35 for an adaptor.…

THIS SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE and effective neck tube swiftly became an everyday cycling essential for me in spring and autumn. The soft polyester and elastane mix sits comfortably on the skin, aided by the chafe-free flatlock seams and tidy finishing. It fits neatly under jacket and jersey collars to prevent chilly air ingress, while the nylon frontal mesh area means it can even double as a face mask on really chilly days. I’ve also used it as a cycling skull cap and a running headband. Sadly, however, there’s currently just the one black colourway on offer.…

01 Hold a dumbbell in one hand. Make sure it’s of a weight that’ll test you when you squat but not break you! 02 Stand in front of a gym bench or platform and place the same leg as the arm you’re holding the dumbbell on the bench. 03 Raise the arm holding the weight to around shoulder height. Keep your back straight. 04 Then squat down, keeping the weight on your heel and the middle of your foot. 05 Hold this position for a few seconds, again keeping your back as straight as possible and looking forward. 06 Then drive straight up. Do four sets of six to eight reps on each side.…

This six-week training plan will support you to take on a multi-day adventure such as the King Alfred’s Way. With solid endurance riding under your belt, this plan will help to fine tune your technical skills and boost your power on long days. Comfort and efficiency are key to riding consecutive days, so testing equipment and set-up is equally as important as physical readiness. Practising nutrition strategies will ensure that you can meet energy requirements and maintain good decision making. Mid-week training includes lunchtime and commute-friendly sessions. Off-bike sessions address the ‘whole-body’ demands of multi-day riding. The blend of cycling and off-bike sessions follow a technical theme each week. Mid-week sessions can be done indoors or outdoors, while Fridays are an optional strength day. The plan uses British Cycling’s Rate…

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY www.buysubscriptions.com/MOUNTAINTIPS23 or call 03330 162 138 and quote ‘1001 Mountain Bike Tips 23 Print 1’ Lines are open Mon to Fri 9am-5pm. Overseas please call +44 (0) 1604 973 746 *Prices including postage are: £10.99 for UK subscribers, £12.49 for Europe and £13.49 for the Rest of the World. UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. All orders are subject to availability. Please allow 28 days for delivery.…

I admire Netflix, in the same way that I admire crisps and Bon Jovi. By which I mean that the world would be a poorer place without both or either of those products. Many is that time that a bag of salt and vinegar and a burst of Livin’ On A Prayer have hit the spot like only they can; full of all the right things to satisfy the moment and leave you wanting more. Next Episode in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… So, this is not remotely aimed at debunking, or disarming the power of the Netflixisation of the way we consume our entertainment. Far from it. I would be the first (well, maybe not the first, but certainly in the top 600-650 million) who would freely acknowledge that…